A compassionate former colleague of Tavistock workers made redundant when a café went bust has explained why he is appealing for donations to help them.

Rhys Mortimer, who worked for The Original Pasty House for four years, before leaving in August, has launched a GoFundMe appeal to help his former colleagues, who lost their jobs on Wednesday, November 4, with no notice. The appeal has raised more than £500 in the space of a week.

He said: “I have a close personal connection with The Original Pasty House and all the people I worked with. It’s not a cliche, it’s true that we all felt like were part of one big family working there.

“When I worked there as a delivery driver I helped out in the kitchen and shop front because that was the supportive way we all worked. But it was more than that. If we had problems and needed someone to talk to there was always a sympathetic person. I made lots of friends there who are still friends. So, it’s like helping someone in your own family.

“I know that there some people who relied on their income from the Pasty House to pay their daily living expenses. One lady worked there to pay the rent on her flat. It’s nearly Christmas, so for many reasons there are people now on the dole who need help quickly.”

The GoFundMe aims to raise money for all the staff that have been made redundant, just seven weeks before Christmas.

He said his appeal should help bridge a gap for when redundant workers are paid two weeks’ wages they are owed from the café through the liquidators when the insolvency process is completed.

Donations to help the staff are welcome at Rhys’ appeal this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-expasty-house-staff-following-closure-in-tavistock